Even after all this time I still don't own Bones, Booth or anyone else either. Not even a dog, keeps my life simpler that way.

Sorry it has taken me so long to update. Musie hijacked me (and she has never done that before I was speechless) because she wanted to work on another story. I finally got her to realize this one could be fun too so she came back. For those of you still with me thanks, hope you like this.

Chapter 13 – You Unlocked Me

Even after returning a bed warm with his body and scent she found it difficult to return to sleep. She was certain he would agree to marry her, and she was confident she could get him to ask her, that was phase one. Phase two might be a little harder, could she convince him to do it today. Would he think it was too fast? Would he think her reasons were to cover up the fact she might change her mind? She had honestly thought of changing her mind before even embarking on this quest, but after careful examination she knew this was what she had been craving for so long. This was what she had been running from, not him but the fear of being happy. After tonight the fear was banished. He had shown her beyond anything she could have imagined she had no reason to fear happiness with him. He had given her the gift to feel and once the gates were open she would never allow them to close again. He was the one who would safely help her keep them open. So now she lay quietly in his arms waiting for the slightest indication he was beginning to wake. Soon she felt him pull her into him and bury his face in her hair. Turning over to face him she began placing tiny feathery kisses all over his face.

"Mmmm, that is a delightful way to wake up, but to what do I owe this attention," he smiled his eyes lighting up.

"Well first of all I didn't really get a good chance to thank you last night for last night." Looking directly into his dark eyes she continued "I understand now what you mean when you say I love you. It's not just some words strung together. To you they are more than just three simple words. They are also wrapped up in trust, honor and proctor, all of those things I thought I never wanted." She pulled his hands to gently hold them next to her heart. "I was wrong; I discovered you were the missing part of me. The part I have been looking for since I was fifteen. Booth I had locked myself away behind words, not because I really felt all the things I like not wanting marriage or children, I locked myself away because I had never found someone I could trust with my heart again. It seemed every time I started to open up to someone they would leave me. After all if my parents didn't love me enough to stay why should anyone else. So I protected myself with the only thing I knew, words. Now I want you to know what I discovered in the dark of the night after we made love. Because you are with me I will never be alone or unloved again. Even if, and this is the biggest thing I have ever had to overcome, something should happen to you and you were taken away from me I would still not be alone. For as long as I live, I know I will forever carry you in my heart, in my soul, in my bones. You have made us one, you have made the impossible possible. Does that make sense to you?"

Booth looked at her in absolute awe. She had just given him the most precious gift she could have given, her fear. She would never carry it around again. But wait in the middle there didn't she say something about not being afraid of marriage or children? "Stay right here Bones I have something for you," he said as he jumped out of bed. Racing to his dresser he searched for a small box and returned to the bed. Pulling her into a sitting position he got down on one knee. "Temperance, I have thought about this moment for years. I have run scenarios through my head a thousand times, but right now I can't think of one. I love you with all my heart. I would die for you, I would kill for you and I would even live for you. As long as it is in my power I will never leave you and when becomes necessary for my life to end and I must leave you, I promise to stay in your heart and mind for the rest of your life. Will you please marry me?"

She looked at his strong face and beautiful eyes. She could see the determination of his words reflected in that face those eyes. She had prepared for this moment, she knew what she was going to say, but still the beauty of his words caused her to pause. She must have taken longer than she thought because all of a sudden she began to see fear in his eye and she realized she was the one putting it there. Leaning down to kiss him gently on the lips she whispered "yes, oh yes, oh yes!" Just like that the fear was gone and the smile began.

Booth opened the velvet box and removed the ring inside. It was a beautiful antique gold band with a recessed diamond. In the dim light she could just make out the dolphins etched around it. Brennan gasped at its beauty. She watched mesmerized as he placed the ring on her finger and covered it with a soft kiss. It was then she noticed they were both beginning to shake and it wasn't from the emotion of the moment. The room was freezing and they were still both naked. "Booth you're freezing and so am I come here," she said as she opened the covers for him to join her.

Their love making was slow, soft, tender and full of joy. They reveled in each other's bodies and the quietness of their moves seemed to make everything seem so much sweeter. Yet even then the completeness they found in each other was astonishing. Their quiet drifting into sleep was total contentment.

This time it was she who was awaken as he gently nipped her ear and ran kisses down her neck. "Bones, if this is a hallucination don't wake me. I don't want to know if you did not agree to marry me just let me live with it for a few more years."

Leaning back over her shoulder to kiss his nose she smiled and said, "Booth if this is a hallucination we are both having it, because I do believe I did agree to marry you just a few hours ago. Are you sorry so soon?"

Rubbing his nose in her hair and drinking in the smell that was her he replied, "Good, I'm glad. So tell me what do you want to do your very first day as an engaged, finally off the market woman?"

"Booth I am not a commodity to be bought and sold. I have never been on the market so how can I be removed?"

"Sorry Bones it's just a colloquialism, I know you aren't for sale and I should have never implied you were. I apologize, now what do you want to do today?"

Here goes phase two she thought taking a deep breath. "Booth would it surprise you if I said I wanted to get married?"

"Well yeah Babe I know you want to get married you said yes but…"

Turning over to face him she said interrupted "no Booth, today. I want to get married today." She had to smile at his face; he had what Angela had described to her as a deer stuck in headlights look. It really might have been humorous if hadn't been so important to her for him to agree.

"Bones you want to get married today? I know you are very rational and only need a nanosecond to make decisions but I need a little more time and a lot more information. First of all, not that I really mind but why today?"

"Booth it's not for the reasons you might think. I did a lot of thinking last night. I discovered that when you asked me to marry you I didn't want to wait another day. Not because I might change my mind or run away, but simply because I love you and I want everyone to know we are committed to each other fully with no reservations. Today would be perfect because we have Parker and as you pointed out we never know when Rebecca will let us have him. This way we can be sure he is at our wedding before Rebecca has a chance to find out it is even going to happen."

"Ok, that sounds great, and the part about Parker is very good thinking, but just were do you want this wedding to be?"

"Well we have several choices, Nevada is always open but I really don't want to go there unless there is no other option. I did find another place we could check out, Rhode Island. I think that appeals to me more and there is no waiting period for a license. I also found a hotel 'The Tower by the Sea' I could call the hotel and see if it is possible to get a license, and a Justice of the Peace to marry us tonight?"

Turning her around to face him he saw a look he had never seen in the entire time he had known Dr. Temperance Brennan. She looked like a little girl asking for her first Christmas gift. Her soft auburn hair floated around her face, her smile was a big as the wide outdoors and her eyes, her eyes shown with all the hope and love he could ever wish for. Lifting her face to gently kiss her he said "you call; I'll go get Parker's his breakfast."

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter, the wedding and a hurricane named Angela is next.

Remember your reviews keep me honest and also encourage me to write faster. Isn't that so true of all writers?

Nyre